tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第9节
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regret not having taken our offer。 This Period chat is only a small dealer。
We can do better by you。 You'll regret〃
〃You'll regret coming here again；〃 snapped Tom； as he closed the door
of his shop； leaving Koku to escort the baffled plotters to their auto。
Shortly afterward Tom and Ned heard the car puffing away。
〃Well； they came； just as Mr。 Period said they would；〃 spoke Tom；
slowly。
〃Yes； and they went away again！〃 exclaimed Ned with a laugh。 〃They
had their trip for nothing。 Say； did you see how they stared at Koku？〃
〃Yes； he's a helper worth having； in cases like these。〃
Tom wrote a full account of what had happened and sent it to Mr。
Period。 He received in reply a few words； thanking him for his loyalty； and
again warning him to be on his guard。
In the meanwhile； work went on rapidly on the Wizard Camera。
Briefly described it was a small square box； with a lens projecting from it。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
Inside； however； was complicated machinery； much too complicated for
me to describe。 Tom Swift had put in his best work on this wonderful
machine。 As I have said； it could be worked by a storage battery； by
ordinary electric current from a dynamo； or by hand。 On top was a new
kind of electric light。 This was small and compact； but it threw out
powerful beams。 With the automatic arrangement set； and the light turned
on； the camera could be left at a certain place after dark； and whatever
went on in front of it would be reproduced on the moving roll of film
inside。
In the morning the film could be taken out； developed； and the pictures
thrown on a screen in the usual way； familiar to all who have been in a
moving picture theatre。 With the reproducing machines Tom had nothing
to do； as they were already perfected。 His task had been to make the new…
style camera； and it was nearly completed。
A number of rolls of films could be packed into the camera； and they
could be taken out； or inserted； in daylight。 Of course after one film had
been made； showing any particular scene any number of films could be
made from this 〃master〃 one。 Just as is done with the ordinary moving
picture camera。 Tom had an attachment to show when one roll was used；
and when another needed inserting。
For some time after the visit of the rival moving picture men； Tom was
on his guard。 Both house and shop were fitted with burglar alarms； but
they did not ring。 Eradicate and Koku were told to be on watch； but there
was nothing for them to do。
〃Well；〃 remarked Tom to Ned； one afternoon； when they had both
worked hard； 〃I think it's about finished。 Of course it needs polishing； and
there may be some adjusting to do； but my camera is now ready to take
picturesat least I'm going to give it a test。〃
〃Have you the rolls of films？〃
〃Yes； half a dozen of 'em And I'm going to try the hardest test first。〃
〃Which one is that？〃
〃The night test。 I'm going to place the camera out in the yard； facing
my shop。 Then you and I； and some of the others； will go out； pass in front
of it； do various stunts； and； in the morning we'll develop the films and see
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
what we have。〃
〃Why； are you going to leave the camera out； all night？〃
〃Sure。 I'm going to give it the hardest kind of a test。〃
〃But are you and I going to stay up all night to do stunts in front of it？〃
〃No； indeed。 I'm going to let it take what ever pictures happen to come
along to be taken after we get through making some special early ones。
You see my camera will be a sort of watch dog； only of course it won't
catch any onethat is； only their images will be caught on the film。
〃Oh； I see；〃 exclaimed Ned； and then he helped Tom fix the machine
for the test。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
CHAPTER VII
WHAT THE CAMERA CAUGHT
〃Well； is she working； Tom？〃 asked our hero's chum； a little later；
when they had set the camera up on a box in the garden。 It pointed toward
the main shop door； and from the machine came a clicking sound。 The
electric light was glowing。
〃Yes； it's all ready；〃 replied Tom。 〃Now just act as if it wasn't there。
You walk toward the shop。 Do anything you please。 Pretend you are
coming in to see me on business。 Act as if it was daytime。 I'll stand here
and receive you。 Later； I'll get dad out here； Koku and Eradicate。 I wish
Mr。 Period was here to see the test； but perhaps it's just as well for me to
make sure it works before be sees it。〃
〃All right； Tom； here I come。〃
Ned advanced toward the shop。 He tried to act as though the camera
was not taking pictures of him； at the rate of several a second； but he
forgot himself； and turned to look at the staring lens。 Then Tom； with a
laugh； advanced to meet him； shaking hands with him。 Then the lads
indulged in a little skylarking。 They threw snowballs at each other； taking
care； however to keep within range of the lens。 Of course when Tom
worked the camera himself； he could point it wherever he wanted to； but it
was now automatic。
Then the lads went to the shop； and came out again。 They did several
other things。 Later Koku； and Eradicate did some 〃stunts；〃 as Tom called
them。 Mr。 Swift； too； was snapped； but Mrs。 Baggert refused to come out。
〃Well； I guess that will do for now；〃 said Tom； as he stopped the
mechanism。 〃I've just thought of something；〃 he added。 〃If I leave the light
burning； it will scare away； before they got in front of the lens； any one
who might come along。 I'll have to change that part of it。〃
〃How can you fix it？〃 asked Ned。
〃Easily。 I'll rig up some flash lights； just ordinary photographing
flashlights； you know。 I'll time them to go off one after the other； and
connect them with an electric wire to the door of my shop。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
〃Then your idea is〃 began Ned。
〃That some rascals may try to enter my shop at night。 Not this
particular night； but any night。 If they come to…night we'll be ready for
them。〃
〃An' can't yo'…all take a picture ob de chicken coop？〃 asked Eradicate。
〃Dat feller may come back t' rob mah hens。〃
〃With the lens pointing toward the shop；〃 spoke Tom； 〃it will also take
snap shots of any one who tries to enter the coop。 So； if the chicken thief
does come； Rad； we'll have a picture of him。〃
Tom and Ned soon had the flashlights in place； and then they went to
bed； listening； at times； for the puff that would indicate that the camera
was working。 But the night passed without incident； rather to Tom's
disappointment。 However； in the morning； he developed the film of the
first pictures taken in the evening。 Soon they were dry enough to be used
in the moving picture machine； which Tom had bought； and set up in a
dark room。
〃There we are！〃 he cried； as the first images were thrown on the white
screen。 〃As natural as life； Ned！ My camera works all right！〃
〃That's so。 Look！ There's where I hit you with a snowball！〃 cried his
chum； as the skylarking scene was reached。
〃Mah goodness！〃 cried Eradicate； when he saw himself walking about
on the screen； as large as life。 〃Dat shorely am wonderful。〃
〃It is spirits！〃 cried Koku； as he saw himself depicted。
〃I wish we had some of the other pictures to show；〃 spoke Tom。 〃I
mean some unexpected midnight visitors。〃
For several nights in succession the camera was set to 〃snap〃 any one
who might try to enter the shop。 The flashlights were also in place。 Tom
and Ned； the latter staying at his chum's house that week； were beginning
to think they would have t
